Parenthood/FNL Boss Jason Katims Back at NBC With Drama High Pilot

NBC has ordered a drama pilot from Friday Night Lights and Parenthood boss Jason Katims titled Drama High that centers on a high school drama teacher and family man whose passion for the program and his students galvanizes the entire working class town.

Katims, who is coming off the short-lived CBS medical drama Pure Genius, is penning the script and will serve as an EP alongside Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller as well as Michelle Lee and Flody Suarez.

The potential series is based on Michael Sokolove’s book Drama High, which itself is based on real-life drama teacher Lou Volpe.

Casting is underway, but, come on, the lead role is Chandler’s to lose, right? Bloodline is currently shooting its final season, so he’d certainly be available. OK, I’ll stop now. Feel free to post your own suggestions in the comments.

Why assume that they’re misfits? The drama department at my high school was full of kids who were there because they were great actors, singers, and dancers. A number of them went to performing arts colleges/programs, and some of them are now currently working in television or professional theater. And two of the drama guys in my year were on the football team. They definitely didn’t do theater because they were misfits.

Actually, when NBC’s Parenthood first came out, it seemed like a dramatic take on Modern Family — a diverse multi-generational family co-existing in CA — but Katims was able to elevate it into something way beyond the basic pitch. So while I had the initial gut “Glee” reaction, I’m sure it’ll be something completely original. Count me in.

Yeah, me too! FNL and Parenthood are classics so as long as it really is drama subbed for football, I’m all in. Not that I want to put Ryan Murphy and Jason Katims in the same category, I fear this might go the way of Glee, which I detested.

I would LOVE to see Chandler and Katims reunited. Absolutely love both of them but hated Bloodline and thought Pure Genius was meh.
Can we get some of the Parenthood cast in there too? What’s Joel up to? Can Dax be a regular?

Lucas Bryant would shine in this part, he can sing, is gorgeous and can do a spot on impresonation of any known character, if you give him a minute. I miss him on TV. Oh, he studied theater in college. He’s perfect!

DRAMA HIGH will be no GLEE, I am sure. Katims’s record proves that. And drama is not show choir. I like the angle about arts and the effect on a working-class community. I am happy to see another famil drama in development other than a crime procedural. Shame PURE GENIUS did not find its footing. I appreciate its optimistic point of view. hope it will be streamed or on DVD soon.

I see this more like an updated version of Fame (from the 80s) than Glee. Fame was gritty and kind of dark, if I remember it correctly. True drama, not overblown teen angst like Glee. And, if it’s like that, I could totally get on board with Kyle Chandler in it, but I won’t hold my breath that it will happen. It might too much like his Coach Taylor role for him to want to take it.